Jets' QB situation in flux

New York Jets quarterback Matt Simms, center, is sacked by Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Koa Misi during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

EAST RUTHERFORD — When coach Rex Ryan sent Geno Smith to the bench at halftime Sunday against the Miami Dolphins in favor of backup Matt Simms, he also threw the Jets quarterback situation into serious doubt moving forward.

Smith — the Jets’ second-round pick back in April — has started all 12 games this season, with generally negative results, recording the worst quarterback rating (62.1) among qualifying passers in the league. His 18 interceptions also lead the NFL.

“We are going to evaluate,” Ryan said, notably not endorsing Smith. “We’ll take a look at the tape and evaluate at the appropriate time. Right now, I can’t tell you who is starting.”

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The West Virginia product has had a few bright spots this season, particularly his three-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, as well as leading the Jets to a 30-27 win over the New England Patriots in Week 7. Over the past three weeks, however, he regressed terribly, throwing six interceptions and no touchdowns as the Jets were outscored by a collective margin of 79-20. Sunday, he completed just 4-of-10 passes for 29 yards and a pick.

“I had none,” Smith said, looking a bit shell-shocked, when asked what his reaction was when he was sent to the bench.

While Simms may offer some temporary relief — much like Greg McElroy did for Mark Sanchez last season — it seems unlikely that he’ll be the long-term answer. He wasn’t particularly effective against the Dolphins, finishing 9-of-18 for 79 yards and an interception, and unlike McElroy he doesn’t have a particularly strong college resume to fall back on, having lost his starting job at Tennessee to Justin Worley in 2010.

“It’s a tough decision, and a tough situation for everybody, especially in New York City, especially when we are in the playoff hunt,” Simms said. “We just have to put our heads down and see what happens.”

The most experienced option at the Jets’ disposal is veteran David Garrard, who rejoined the team last month after retiring in training camp due to knee issues. In nine years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he threw 89 touchdowns and 54 interceptions, but hasn’t seen significant action since 2010. The main reason the Jets brought Garrard into the fold was to mentor Smith, not supplant him in the lineup.

“That could be a possibility,” Ryan said, on the possibility that Garrard could be active for the first time next week against the Oakland Raiders. “We looked at that today.”

Looming large of the entire quarterback situation, of course, is Sanchez’s torn labrum. The former starter suffered the season-ending injury in the team’s third preseason game, when he was put in during the fourth quarter behind the backup offensive line. The Jets, and particularly Ryan, received heavy criticism for the decision.

“It’s easy when you look back on things,” Ryan said. “Injuries are part of the game.”

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Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who aggravated a hamstring injury last week against Baltimore and didn’t practice Thursday or Friday, was active against the Dolphins, but finished without a reception on limited snaps.

“It was coach’s decision,” Holmes said about his lack of playing time. “I had limited plays coming off an injury. We wanted to monitor that and make sure everything is okay for the rest of the season.”

About the Author

Trentonian sportswriter and utility man. New York Jets, Princeton basketball, Mercer/Bucks county high schools, Trenton Thunder. Tulane grad. Former Times-Picayune and NFL.com intern. Reach the author at nperuffo@trentonian.com
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